Cozzens' lesser novels are nevertheless enviably well-written. This one is the story of George Bull, the last of a dying breed of general practice physicians in New England in the 30s. Bull is extremely memorable -- a man living in the present, with few regrets, but coping with the cynicism that comes from watching patients die regardless of the level of care. When a public health crisis splits the town into factions, Bull's fate as a doctor hangs in the balance. This is an apt fictional counterpart to John McPhee's "Heirs of General Practice"